SLIAC

[hopefan]

In reality, as I look at the Rosters, and the stats from last year, virtually every key player from last year.... for every team...  returns...
Webster....  Katie Meyer 10.9 ppg, Maggie Zehner 9.3 ppg, Molly Zehner, Barissa Ford, Blaire Underwood, Tori Fenemor, Megan Willet....   Improvement around the basket is a must, as is reduced turnovers

Fontbonne ...  Kaitlin Bramel 12.6 ppg, Calista Collier 12.8 ppg, Mallory Ludwig  10.8 ppg, Kendra Schilli, Rana Boyd, Shareika April....    When Bramel and Collier get on a roll, a real blast to watch

Blackburn..... Sorry BC.. when I call up your website on my 'lunchtime' computer, it bombs... I'll get some names when I'm at home...

Westminster  Rachel Backes 11 ppg, 6.5 Asst, Liz Klaffenbach 8.5 ppg, Heather Letourneau 8.3 ppg, 5.5 Rpg, Kenna Cornelson, Mary Barber....    I like Brammel and Callier... I like Backes just as much

MacMurray    Ashley Jenkins 10.8 ppg, team lead in assts, Whitney Wade, Kiana Hogan, Rachel Yeast

Eureka  Lisa Byarrd  14.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, Jaquie flannigan, Kristen Garst...   

Prin   Linday Sydness  16.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg,   Sarah Corbit  13.6 ppg.... top returning twosome statistically in conference

Greenville   Katelyn Wise  12.4 ppg  6.9 rpg,   Laura Holley,  Stacey Lawrence,  Iesha Adams

Spalding   Kelly Harrod  13.3 ppg  7.9 rpg,   Lauren Reed  11.0 ppg  6.8 rpg

[hopefan]

Fontbonne at Rolla on Saturday.. I assume it's an exhibition game

Fontbonne at Wash U Monday night to open up the season....   talk about an opportunity to make a statement!!!  WOW....   but Wash U is just so Good.....

[y_jack_lok]

Wash U graduated three starters and at least one key reserve. But they still have plenty of talent. My recollection is that FU didn't lose much to graduation. I alss seem to recall that FU is pretty quick, so if they can find a way to use that to their advantage they can make it an interesting game.

[hopefan]

I remember being somewhat excited about Wash U vs Fontbonne last year....   and the Bears won by 43.....    That has me convinced that the level of play may be so different that Wash U will dominate despite their personnel losses......   Of course neve say never... maybe this is the year....

[WUPHF]

It may be an interesting game.  But, keep in mind that Washington University ran with Bradley University for 25-30 minutes of the exhibition game last week.

Unfortunately, I will not be in town on Monday, otherwise, I would be organizing a carpool to Jacksonville.

[hopefan]

WUH, if you have a change in plans, contact me... I'm likely going to go up.... of course, good luck getting up on Tuesday morning

[y_jack_lok]

It may be an interesting game.  But, keep in mind that Washington University ran with Bradley University for 25-30 minutes of the exhibition game last week.

Good point. Probably won't even be interesting.

[WUPHF]

Good point. Probably won't even be interesting.

I hope I didn't sound too discouraging.  I imagine that the Bears fans felt much the same way in advance of the game ten years ago.  I do like this annual series though and I wish WUSTL embraced it more than they do.

[hopefan]

Fontbonne loses to Missou S&T (Rolla)   65-52..

Collier and Bramel both have off nights, but Font still was up by 2 at half.

Rana Boyd and Mallory Ludwig did not play...  injuries?

Two frosh, Shelby Ellison and Chelsey Freymuth and a Soph whose name i don't remember from last year, Leola Hubbard, got lots of  minutes and had good stats.... giving Font depth that only can make them better.....

[hopefan]

Well, I've decided to go up to Jacksonville and see the Mac Men host Wash U...   But I wish the Fontbonne ladies best of luck vs Wash U.....   Hopefully Denny McKinney will give us a DETAILED writeup.....   if I can't count on him, there just isn't any hope for this room....

[Wydown Blvd.]

Ill be watching online, but Ill do my best with the write-up as well, although it will definitely be from more of a WashU perspective. I'm no D. McKinney

[hopefan]

No Wydown, my main man Dennis is definitely one of a kind...  thanks for ANY writeup....

[Wydown Blvd.]

WashU 77  Fontbonne 48

So here is the Fontbonne summary for the time being (the bed is calling my name). I will post more on the UAA thread later this week for some WashU stuff. And I apologize for being a little general in this summary, but I don't know the FU roster very well at all.

First, it wasn't the prettiest game, with the teams combining for 52 turnovers.

Fontbonne did a great job pressuring WashU to stay in the game most of the first half. They showed a 2-3 defense for much of the first half, and the Bears were out of sync early. Some of the turnovers and mistakes were jitters, other mistakes the early season lack of chemistry. WashU played primarily man, but showed some zone. Fontbonne's man-to-man sets were at times a little too complicated for their own good... Their best opportunities to score were on fast break opportunities and simple drive and kicks from defensive breakdowns. Had FU made more of their layups, they would have been able to put a little more pressure on WashU in the second half of the first half.

The second half was ugly. WashU came out of the gates firing on all cylinders... let by their signature great defense, they went on at least a 15-0 run to start the second half (I apologize, but I drifted in and out of MNF and the game at that point).

Hubbard was the lone bright spot for Fontbonne, although most of her efforts (including 2 three's and a break-a-way layup) came well after the game was decided. She can shoot the rock from deep, and one of her three's was a nice one of an on-ball at the top of the key but WashUs second string was in even at that point.

Of Fontbonne's 28 turnovers, a decent chunk were unforced although WashU recorded 14 steals. Tons of simple traveling violations and at least 5 offensive fouls (inc. hooking, illegal screen, 2 charges) in the first half alone.

Fontbonne's guard play was much better than its post play. Not sure if it was WashU's size that bother them or what, but most back to the basket moves didn't really have a chance.

Hard to judge the caliber of the team when it plays a season-opening game against such a tough opponent, but the individual talent seems to certainly be there to make a great run in the SLIAC.

[hopefan]

Fontbonne's guard play was much better than its post play. Not sure if it was WashU's size that bother them or what, but most back to the basket moves didn't really have a chance.

Hard to judge the caliber of the team when it plays a season-opening game against such a tough opponent, but the individual talent seems to certainly be there to make a great run in the SLIAC.

That says it all Wydowne...  With Callier, Bramel, and the new face Hubbard, Fontbonne has 3 of the best guards in the league and a nice supporting cast....  Mallory Ludwig gives a solid post presence at SLIAC level hoops, but she has not played yet (injury?) .  They are still the favorites in conference until someone else proves different...

[y_jack_lok]

Webster downs Logan Chiropractic 68-35. After a lopsided first half (45-11) in which Logan couldn't get off many shots and when they did they weren't even close, it was pretty even in the second half, and it wasn't due to a lot of reserves getting big minutes for Webster. Coach O rotated lots of players in and out the whole game. Logan played better in the second half and they have some players who would fit right in at a lot of SLIAC schools. I'm sure they lack coaching, practice time, etc. compared to schools with more organized alhletic programs. They only had 8 players, but they didn't seem to wear down and were playing just as hard as Webster at the end.

This was a typical frenetic Webster game with lots of turnovers on both sides. I wish I could see a box score and check out Webster's 2nd half shooting percentage. Has to be below 30%.

Interesting new player for Webster is junior transfer Tyelia Gant. She's wearing #2, worn by Ayrica Lockett the past two years. Sure hope she doesn't get jinxed by that number and miss a lot of putbacks under the basket. Happened a few times tonight. We'll see if it becomes a pattern.